When we booked our flights home for Christmas I suggested to the Aussie that we venture out to climb Glastonbury Tor on Boxing Day and he happily (I think) accepted the challenge.

Last time the Aussie came to the UK, he climbed Glastonbury Tor. I didn’t, because firstly I didn’t think I would be fit enough and secondly I had, had surgery on my leg about 8 weeks before and was still feeling the effects. However, I will admit that the main reason I chose not too, was because I didn’t believe I would manage the walk.

This time round I was actually really excited about the challenge and giving it a go. I was also confident that I wouldn’t struggle with the walk because I am a lot fitter than I was.

The Tor itself is a large hill which overlooks Somerset and the Somerset Levels and has an elevation of 518 feet (158 metres). To climb the Tor you can walk up the grassy side or use the stairs, we used the stairs because it was easier but it was also early in the morning and quite damp from the dew / mist.

As we climbed up the stairs the sheep who live in and around the Tor moved off the path (although we had to dodge the sheep poo!) and we worked our way to the top.

We crossed paths with a dog walker and his two dogs who stopped for a quick pat on their way up and a couple of solo walkers who greeted us with a swift “good morning” and “I don’t think you will get much of a view today” due to the mist. For me anyway, the view wasn’t the reason for the climb, I was enjoying the new personal challenge.

The mist covered the Tor as we approached and didn’t clear until well in to our time at the top. We spent some time talking to a guy who had woken up and felt the urge to climb the Tor that day and greeted the morning with some chanting.

We watched the mist go across and clear our view of the Somerset Levels before taking a different set of stairs back down the Tor and in to Glastonbury where we spent some time walking around the town before stopping for a coffee and our next stop on our Boxing Day adventures in Cheddar.

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I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying that crazy period between Christmas and New Year! The Aussie and I have been out and about exploring the beautiful Somerset countryside on our own and with my lovely parents and I will write about that soon.

My brother says that I make him feel Christmassy and last Christmas that I was at home we visited a local street where most of the houses cover their houses in lights to raise money for charity.

This year was no exception and so as the Aussie was here I decided that we had to go and visit and Christmas Eve seemed like the best night to go so we could feel extra festive.

It seemed like there wasn’t quite as many houses lit up this year but the lighting display definitely did not disappoint as you can see from some of the photos which I took below.

The evening was lovely especially as my brother was able to come along as well. The only thing that was missing was a steaming cup of hot chocolate!

After dropping my brother home we went home ourselves, fully intending to stay up and watch the Midnight Mass on tv and promptly fell asleep half way through!

It was all in all a pretty special Christmas Eve as I also got to see my Grandma and introduce her to the Aussie for the first time.

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I cannot believe it is already Christmas Eve, December has flown by in the same way as the rest of 2018.

Our plans today include visiting a local village and check out their lighting display. Every year the cul-de-sac is lit up by Christmas lights and they also raise money for charity. I visited with my brother last time I was home for Christmas and just loved it so it is time to take the Aussie. I think this will set us up perfectly for the rest of the festive period.

I will hopefully share some photos of our Christmas Eve after Christmas, but here are some photos I took last time we visited the lights show.

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After the lights I am hoping that we can go to Midnight Mass at the beautiful old church in the town where I grew up. The Aussie and I went last time he was in the UK with me and it was a lovely experience and way to end Christmas Eve / start Christmas Day. I’m not sure who will be coming but I know me and my Mum will definitely be there.

Then it will be time to begin Christmas Day which will be sent at home with my Mum and Dad and my brother will be coming over for lunch which will be the perfect family Christmas, especially with the Aussie with us as well.

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At the start of the year I posted about my plans for 2018 which you can find here.

Getting towards the year I have been reflecting on my year and whether I have achieved everything I wanted, if I didn’t why not and what do I want for my 2019.

1) Goal Weight – my goal weight / fitness plans have been a bit fluid this year. I am below the goal weight I wanted right at the start of getting fitter and healthier and I am also a smaller dress size than I hoped / expected to be. I am about 10kg away from my ideal dream weight at the moment I think. I plan on having skin removal surgery sooner rather than later which should get me to about 5kg away from the goal weight and then I will assess what the goal actually should be and is achievable.

2) Take part in the following events:

a) Triathlon Pink event – I was signed up for this event but didn’t feel anywhere near ready to complete this event still. I don’t know if/when I will ever do it but it is a nice aim to keep in the background;
b) Twilight Marathon – I was signed up for the 5km event but due to circumstances was unable to participate. I will keep my eye out for it in 2019 and hopefully will manage it.
c) Gold Run 2018 – This one I did, it was hard work doing 5km in the middle of summer but I loved it!
d) I wanted to participate in the RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk which I did, Colour Run which I did and the Leukaemia Foundations Light the Night walk which I didn’t do but I did do Bridge to Brisbane, the MS Moonlight Walk and a few others.

3) Visit Sydney – I did this with my family for the first time ever and I loved the place. I wrote about it here, here, here and here and intend to get back again in the not to distant future.

I have to say I had a blast this year which is reflected in my blog and It is difficult to even narrow down the best moments because I have had so many. Now I just have to try and suss out what I want to aim for in 2019.

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This year has been insane world wise and I find myself shaking my head in disbelief about what is happening.

I have had such an amazing 2018 and so I wanted to reflect back on the 5 things I am grateful for this year (in no particular order!).

My health and how much it has improved and how far I have come. I have lost about 30kg this year (50kg in total since I started) and this year I have improved my strength, stamina and most importantly diet because you cannot out train a bad diet! This is in no small part thanks to my Trainer/Coach Felicity Neale who has helped me so much and guided me through this year so that I can say I have lost 30kg in total. I am looking forward to the New Year and what it will bring.

My family who may not be close to me in terms of distance but are so very important and supportive of me. I appreciate everything that they do for me and I am so happy that I will be spending Christmas with them and the Aussie this year.

The Aussie who listens to me and supports me in everything which I do every day. I am sure I am not always the easiest to live with, knowing me as I do, but he takes it all in his stride and never waivers in his support.

My friends both near and far who are always there for me when I need them and I hope they feel it is reciprocated when they need me and even when they don’t. I’ve learnt a few things about friendships this year and I have had to accept some realities like what I will and won’t be prepared to put up with and when it might be time to let go and that is ok.

Feeling settled in Brisbane. We now have a lovely house which is big enough that we can comfortably have family and friends visit to share our life in Brisbane. We have started to explore the area which is stunning and we have future adventures which we will look forward to in the next year to come. Next year I can apply for Citizenship and will hopefully become a dual citizen next year which will give a little bit more security for me as well.